Even if you genuinely like the art of cooking, the process of cooking can be tedious, repetitive, and uninspiring, especially if you do it on a regular basis. Fortunately, there are many strategies you can use to liven things up and have more fun in the kitchen.
So what are they and how do you implement them?
Consider Expanding Your Kitchen Territory
If you have more space and more options, you’ll likely have more fun with the cooking process. Depending on your available space and your budget, you might be able to expand your kitchen territory.
For example, you might be able to install some new countertops and storage options, expanding the counter space you can use to prepare materials and increasing the number of tools and utensils you can use to cook. In line with this, you might be interested in purchasing new appliances, new devices, new utensils, and other tools that can increase your range of possibilities.
Another option is to construct an outdoor kitchen. An outdoor kitchen can dramatically expand your cooking space, giving you a secondary (or new primary) site for preparing food. In an outdoor kitchen, you can have a full set of appliances, including a grill, a stove, a refrigerator, and even a pizza oven. You can enjoy the sun and fresh air while cooking, and you can mitigate certain issues associated with cooking; for example, cooking outside can help disseminate odors and make cleanup much easier.
Buy Some New Toys
Sometimes, cooking feels tedious because you don’t have the right tools – or because you’re limited to certain techniques because your range of tools is so limited. Buying a new tool or device could help you try a new recipe that was once beyond your capabilities, or make certain tasks easier and less repetitive. Go ahead and splurge on something that might make your kitchen life easier.
Experiment With New Recipes and Original Creations
Next, consider experimenting with new recipes and techniques. See if you can discover some new recipes, tutorials, or cooking techniques and try them out in your own kitchen. Similarly, you can try cooking with a new selection of ingredients or dabbling in a cuisine you’ve never tried before.
Experimental cooking on your own doesn’t always lead to great results, but it’s always a fun time. Use your existing knowledge and experience to create something entirely of your own – and try not to get discouraged if it doesn’t work out right away. After a few rounds, you may be able to refine your initial efforts into something totally delicious.
Install a TV (or a Nice Speaker System)
Even with the best setup, cooking can be repetitive and tiring. But it’s much more palatable if you have some entertainment available. Consider installing a TV in your kitchen so you can put a favorite movie or TV show on in the background, or invest in a nice speaker system so you can enjoy some energetic music or a stimulating podcast. The more time you spend in the kitchen, the more this investment will pay off.
Utilize Theme Nights
You may also find more enjoyment cooking in line with theme nights. You can create themes around specific types of cuisine, specific ingredients, specific cooking styles, or even more abstract concepts like colors – or foods from your favorite media. There are no firm rules for theme nights, so flex your creativity and discover something new.
Get Others Involved
Cooking is more fun when you have other people involved. It’s a common saying that “too many cooks spoil the broth,” but this doesn’t have to be the case; you can delegate specific responsibilities to the other people on your culinary team, or simply coordinate to make things flow smoothly.
Set Challenges for Yourself
Cooking challenges can be stimulating, both because they introduce you to something new and because they force you to challenge yourself. Try to cook something using a small number of ingredients, cook in a limited amount of time, or host a cooking competition among your family members or friends.
Learn From New Sources
Expand your horizons by learning from new sources. Recipe books, blogs, YouTube channels, and podcasts are just the beginning; if you’re truly dedicated to the culinary arts, you might even consider attending classes or going to a culinary school.
Embrace Imperfections
Finally, learn to embrace imperfections. You don’t need to have perfect techniques, nor do all your creations need to be top-restaurant-quality. You’ll have a much better time in the kitchen if you don’t put undue pressure on yourself.
We’ve all had moments when cooking has felt stale and unexciting. But with the help of these strategies, you can breathe new life into your culinary world.